After an online fundraising campaign raised more than £2,000, Europe’s oldest student newspaper has been saved from closure.

1887 was the year that Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson founded Edinburgh University’s student newspaper, the Student.

Since it is financially independent from both the university and its students’ association, it relies on advertising and fundraising.

However, it lost a major advertiser earlier this year, putting its future in doubt.

The Student’s editor-in-chief, Joe Sullivan, told Scotland News the paper was barely scraping by financially and would not have been able to continue printing.

“After 186 years in print, this was something the paper did not wish to lose.” he said.

Without a presence in print, on counters, in newsstands, across all student areas of Edinburgh, we might not be able to survive as a digital publication.”

On 5 October, a fundraiser with an initial goal of $1,000 was launched. The amount has now surpassed $2,000.

Our team is so thrilled. We’ve exceeded our initial goal by double. There is nothing more we could ask for. It’s an amazing feeling, and we are all so grateful.” Joe said.

Most heartening is the generosity of students, members of our audience who just want to see us continue to print.” “Donations have come in from all kinds of people, but those in the student community have been the most heartwarming to see.”

A majority of the donations will go toward printing costs, while the remainder will be used to invest in better equipment.